VSP

Photography

If photographing people, events, life and society is what you like to shoot, then this Masterclass is for you. Sicily presents a fascinating environment in which to not only take great pictures, but also witness and learn something very tangible about a country and its relationship with religion. The Masterclass spans over the Easter week, and is focussed primarily on two of the main Easter processions in the towns of Marsala and Trapani in the West of Sicily. The Easter processions are also a very personal moment for Sicilians - it is by no means a tourist attraction. As such we are privileged to witness communities, towns, old and young, all come together in an emotional outpour that spans the week.

The photography is 'street-shooting'. You'll be walking the streets, often working individually to make moving amongst the crowds easier. You'll be working light - one camera, probably one lens too. You'll be right amongst the people - part of the ceremony, and the challenge will be to better understand the delicate line between observer and participant.
The emotion of the celebrations over the week could not fail to move even the most steadfast atheist. It is quite an incredible sight to see such intense emotion displayed publicly. The images that will unfold in front of you are there for the taking - our goal is to guide you along the process, ensuring that your visual, creative and technical skills come together to create moving photography and a great learning experience.

Teaching

Teaching is done through a combination of daily image review sessions, in the field demonstrations, and hands-on practice. As much of the shooting is to be done amongst towns and crowds, we set meeting points, where your instructor will be so that during the day's shooting, you can always find somebody to assist you and answer any questions. Other days will see us shooting at more leisurely locations such as the hill-top town or Erice or the ruins of Segesta. We normally get together at lunch time - a good time to do a 'business lunch' and discuss how the day is going.

In the evening we all head out for dinner together and have a good chat about the day's events. Image review sessions are conducted using a laptop and digital projector and take place in the hotel's conference room. For those wishing to use film, there are labs nearby that can process slide and film.

Is this for me?

Our Sicily offering is what we call a 'Workshop'. This means that it is open to all skill levels. Our Workshops involve critique sessions on most days, and our emphasis is on the photography first and foremost. We try to strike a balance between showing our participants important places and landmarks, whilst avoiding going down the route of a 'tour' company. Travel is very often an integral part of workshops, and when we design our itineraries, we keep this in mind. We design our days to be full so that for those with the energy - they will never be bored - and those who wish to adopt a slower pace - they can do so by opting out of certain activities.
Our passion is photography, and we welcome all of you that share this love. One of the great benefits of learning in a group, is the knowledge you also gain from those around you. New ideas, shared critiques and a good sense of camaraderie are ingredients we actively try to encourage in all of our trips.